May

Permanent residents relax and bloom:
the druid-white blackthorn; the spiky gorse
with blooms like English butter; the bluebells, intense
as a Viking’s eyes. This is their favourite season.

Meanwhile robins, skylarks and buzzards, wrens,
ravens, blue tits and dunnocks are joined by visitors
from warmer parts: the redstart, chiffchaff, willow warbler,
pied flycatcher, bringing their songs to the soundscape.

We, two-legged, unwinged, drive up in droves
to celebrate 50 years of Buxton Mountain Rescue;
to try climbing, abseiling, archery; to make our dogs behave;
to set out, strong-booted, bag a brace of Cheshire peaks.

There is sunshine here, and wind, and rain.
And space for all of this.

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The fifth poem written by Ailsa Holland as Tegg’s Nose Poet in Residence. Photo by Lisa Williams.